60 Examples Of LOLER Equipment

All work equipment is covered by the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). But when you're working with lifting equipment, an extra set of health and safety regulations apply. The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).

LOLER applies to lifting equipment used at work. LOLER does not apply to lifting equipment which is not provided for use at work.

LOLER is different to PUWER because it adds extra requirements for equipment used for lifting, like specific inspection timeframes for lifting equipment.

But what is lifting equipment?

Regulation 2(1) defines ‘lifting equipment’ as ‘work equipment for lifting or lowering loads and includes its attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it’. It includes any lifting accessories that attach the load to the equipment in addition to the equipment which carries out the actual lifting function. The scope of these Regulations is therefore very wide.

In some cases, it may be obvious when equipment is used for lifting. Hoists and goods lifts for example. But sometimes equipment has mixed uses and only parts of it are used for lifting.

And you shouldn't just consider the equipment, but also its attachments - known as lifting accessories. These are also covered by LOLER.

Let's look at some examples of what equipment LOLER is relevant to.

Lifting equipment

If the equipment's main purpose is to lift and lower a load, it is lifting equipment, and includes attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting the equipment.

Lifting equipment is covered by LOLER. If it's used to lift people, it must be examined at least every 6 months and other lifting equipment needs to be examined every 12 months.

Examples of lifting equipment include:

• cranes
• tower crane
• overhead crane
• gantry crane
• jib crane
• bridge crane
• mobile crane
• cranes fitted to vehicles
• outriggers
• forklift trucks
• stacker trucks
• telescopic handlers
• high-lift pallet trucks (both manual and powered)
• goods lifts
• passenger lifts
• rope and pulley systems
• hoists
• gin wheel
• dumb waiter
• pull-lifts
• winches (if the load leaves the ground)
• vacuum lifting equipment
• a vehicle inspection hoist
• motor vehicle lifts
• a scissor lift
• a cherry picker
• mobile elevating work platform (MEWP)
• ropes used for climbing or work positioning
• mast climbing work platforms
• suspended cradles
• forwarders and cable cranes
• slab lifters
• a paper roll hoist on a printing machine
• an automated storage and retrieval system
• a front-end loader on a tractor
• an excavator (or other earth-moving machinery) when used for lifting using lifting attachments (eg forks, grabs, lifting magnets)
• patient hoists
• a loader crane fitted to a lorry, eg used to raise bins for delivery duties
• a refuse vehicle loading arm, eg used to raise bins for tipping
• an air cargo elevating transfer vehicle
• a car transporter or vehicle recovery equipment
• a building cleaning cradle and its suspension equipment
• a skip collection vehicle
• vehicle tail lifts

Working with lifting equipment is dangerous. Failure of the equipment could cause loads to drop, resulting in damage and/or injuries. Overloading the equipment may result in collapse or overturning. And there are always risks when working with moving machinery.

Inspecting lifting equipment? Use the LOLER inspection sheet to check the equipment and the operation before lifting commences, and use the LOLER thorough examination form to record your inspections.

Lifting accessories

If the equipment attaches a load to lifting equipment, it is a lifting accessory.

All lifting accessories need to be examined at least every 6 months, whether they are used to lift people or other loads.

You should only use accessories that are compatible with the lifting equipment (and load) being used.

Examples of lifting accessories include:

• slings
• removable eyebolts
• clamp attachments
• chains
• ropes
• harnesses
• hooks
• shackles
• grabs
• magnets
• vacuum lifters
• crane forks
• crane jib attachment
• drum clamp
• lifting beams
• spreaders

Lifting accessories are just as important as the main lifting equipment. They attach the load to the lifting equipment, and failure of the accessory could mean the loss of the load. Lifting accessories can also have a significant weight, which should be considered when assessing the safe working load so as not to overload the machine.

Considerations for lifting accessories include the condition, the weight, the configurations, and the lifting equipment they are safe to use with.

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If an item of equipment is used for lifting or lowering at work, then the equipment, its attachments, and its accessories are lifting equipment. It's important to check the equipment is well-maintained and safe to use.

Lifting equipment should be thoroughly examined after installation and before first use, at 6 or 12 monthly intervals, and after exceptional events.

LOLER doesn't just cover the lifting equipment but also the lifting operations it carries out. Any time you use lifting equipment you should think about the risks and how to plan the lift safely.

You should only use certified lifting equipment, for the purpose intended, within its safe working load.

Now you know what equipment is covered by LOLER, you can use the LOLER inspection sheet to make sure your lifting operations are properly planned.